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EDITOR: Before the election, I was watching a European TV news broadcast. This privately-owned chain had sent a crew to Boone County, Ky., to find out how the residents of the poorest county in the U.S. were likely to vote. Most people interviewed were for Mitt Romney and their reasons were mainly twofold: Romney was going to save the coal industry, Boone County’s only resource, and Obama wanted to take away their guns.
Seventy-five years after the TVA was born, many denizens of Boone County still do not have electricity. Most are on welfare and food stamps, and practically all kids qualify for a free school breakfast and lunch. A county employee estimated that, at the end of some months, when the welfare money has run out, many school children do not eat between lunch Friday and breakfast Monday. When schools are not in session, the county runs special food programs for the children. Of course, Ayn Rand devotees will tell us that the adults and kids of Boone County are poor because they want to be poor.
The problems of Boone County are definitely third-world: malnutrition, lack of medical and dental care and facilities, roads decimated by coal-carrying trucks, a school system not worthy of Somalia and pervasive fundamentalist religions that help the authorities (meaning the GOP) keep the population under control.
The GOP has conned these poor people into believing that Romney is the man who “feels their pain,” that he’s “one of them.” They’re convinced that Romney will bring back coal and lift them out of their misery. Ironically, one of the older miners interviewed was pining about the good old days, when he made a decent wage. When one of the reporters suggested that the coal industry of old was unionized, the miner agreed, but he was going to vote “Romney” anyway. This attitude is the GOP’s greatest electoral triumph: It has convinced the poorest of the poor to vote for the oligarchs, against their own self-interest.
JOHN GARON
Placerville
Besides, Cookie’s money belongs to me.
Phil, I’m thinking of becoming a Republican, because the Republican message is that I may someday be rich. I want to be rich and build
a solid gold house. Until then, do I need to step on little people to be a good Republican? Please advise soonest.
James, my one and only interest is the welfare of the Garons AND the denizens. If they would just move to Boon Co. they would develop a symbiotic relationship with the denizens. Singlehandedly the Garons could double the gross domestic product of Boon County. Then having ingratiated themselves to the local denizens they will be rewarded. When the $hit hits the fan and the meek inherit the earth the Garons’ kindnesses will be returned. It will be the denizens who have the skills to shoot, gut, skin, quarter and distribute the’ critters. The Garons will be cared for by the indigenous denizens of Boon County. There may be a sticking point. They may have difficulty in finding skilled domestic help, judging from pictures link.
I checked the unemployment rate of Boone County, Ky. Unemployment rate is 6.4%
California unemployment rate is 10.1%; 6.4% GOP
10.1% Democrat. hummmmmmm
Red-neck statistics vs. relativity; Thousands of coal miners have been laid off just in the Appalachia region this year. Mines in Boone County have shut down and thousands of more workers depending on the industry have also lost their incomes. Just 2 months ago, one of the largest coal companies in the world (Arch Coal) laid off 750 workers.
Richard, do I have this right? Oz launches a war on coal. Thousands of coal miners are laid off. Garon takes the “denizens” of Boon County to task for falling for idiotic GOP ideology. And you think Republicans should supply the cure? How ‘bout this – Legalize white lightening. Teach the indigenous to set up an Appalachian booze tour much the same as we have here in El Dorado County. Lure in the rich effete flatlanders, and take ‘em!
Veerkamp, the simple fact is that “cheap coal in central Appalachia has been mined out.” There is no politician, except Mitt Romney, who can change that, or scapegoat anybody. Remaining coal supplies tend to be more expensive to extract and aren’t as profitable according to the Boone County Chamber.” Central Appalachia would be experiencing almost as much decline in coal mining even if it had the most anti-environmental president of our history in place.” Additionally, coal can be purchased from Colorado State for a third of the cost of Kentucky coal. The Chinese who purchase the majority of Kentucky coal don’t give a damn if one burns hotter than the other. As far as legalizing White Lighting, and teaching the locals to set-up booze tours, the first to complain would be the big GOP supporters like Coors screaming like little sissy’s that its unfair.
Thanks John Garon for the essentially accurate history of Kentucky coal and exploitation. Sure beats reading some of the long winded, rambling, ideological bs posted by some commentators.
Richard, Oz could, by executive order, create an appropriately named and defined “Appalachian economic zone” restricted to the locals and prohibiting jim beam, jack Daniels and – Coors from participating – mom & pop booze. Fix the problem. Forget Rs & Ds. Oz might even get a little revenue after an appropriate tax free start-up period.
Every large family has a crazy uncle. Phil must be the one in the Veerkamp tribe. As for coal mines in Appalachia, most of the large operations have indeed closed. What I saw of Boone County were very small operations–half a dozen or so men, often related to each other–that were scavenging the coal left behind by the big boys.
Thank you for your good humor, John. You are particularly kind!
I surrender, hastening to clear Boone County’s recently besmirched reputation, to which regrettably I contributed. It seems what we have here is problem of NAMES. In Kentucky there is a Boone County, which is not the same as the Kentucky town named Booneville, located in Owsley County. According to the 2010 US Census, 7% of Boone County’s residents live below the US poverty guidelines, whereas in Owsley County, home of BOONEVILE, the figure rises to 45%. Apparently Owsley County has the highest poverty rate in all of Kentucky. As for determining the poverty ranking of all the counties the United States . . . . .
oops. BOONEVILLE
Now . . . if there’s one single person left on the face of this planet with the slightest interest in this “conversation”, according to Wikipedia Owsley County KY is the “poorest county in the United States”.
Evelyn, looks like things are dying out. In order to liven things up I’ve written a short letter to the Editor. As soon as it appears, we will be back in business.
Colonel, I look forward to the publication your thoughts. It is my sense that over time we have developed at least a small level of mutual respect. Please, don’t push it!
Evelyn, is surrender painful? Are reparations in order? I should think not when one considers Versailles.
Dear Mr. Garon,
In the future, check ANY other source for your data than a European TV broadcast. I lived in Boone County Kentucky for a couple of years in the mid 2000′s and I saw absolutely nothing of which you reported.
Only about 5% of the population is below poverty level and when attending my children’s school functions, there were no reports of starving kids. It is not third world. Everyone has electricity. And, as far as I know, there is no coal mining there.
There were MANY upscale restaurants, spas, bars, shops, neighborhoods and much more. I sold real estate for a living when I lived there and most of my clients were well qualified.
I won’t be too hard on you though as you might want to check the facts on Boone County West Virginia….
Kelly Girl: You may not know it but Dear Mr. Groan is a racist bigot who’s words have no value and mean nothing. He continually tries to play the offense position thinking he will keep everyone else on defense. I think he and maybe two other people are the only one’s that think he really knows anything.
Tea party is a tool of corporatists like the Koch brothers whose sole goal is to control all government levers for their own profit. These corporate puppeteers use President Obama’s race to feed the TP’s paranoia. Sounds like an accute statement to me.
Jane, are you lost down deep in the archives?